As 2025 reaches its midway point, it’s nice to take a moment to reflect on all the wonderful games players have had the luxury of experiencing so far, from breakout JRPGs likeClair Obscur: Expedition 33to highly anticipated launches likeMonster Hunter Wilds. Although everyone’s list of 2025’s best games varies, critical ratings and overall player feedback do provide a good general sense of what falls where.
As for what topsMetacritic’s Best Games of the Yearlist, it’s a pleasure to say thatthis year’s biggest titles include both triple-A and indie releases, with a variety of genres among them. Unfortunately, there is some debate as to what exactly qualifies as a 2025 game, but for the purposes of this article, remakes, remasters, and rereleases do qualify with consideration of their status taken into account.
10Monster Hunter Wilds
Metascore: 88 | SR Rating: 8/10 | Steam Rating: Mixed
WhileMonster Hunter Wildswas one of the most anticipated releases of the year, it has unfortunatelyhit a bit of a rough patch that has only continued to bring its ratings downover the short time since its release. With recentSteam reviews coming in as Overwhelmingly Negative, a majority of this downfall seems to be attributed toMonster Hunter Wilds' poor performance and optimization on PC.
Unfortunately, the worst part is that, aside from this glaring flaw, most players still feel thatMonster Hunter Wildsis a great game featuring the classic addictiveMonster Huntergameplay loop that the franchise is known for.However, the PC version has yet to see the necessary fixes it needs to run properly, leaving thousands of players feeling frustrated and as though they were delivered something that wasn’t truly finished. It’s one of the best experiences of 2025 when it works, but it comes with caveats.
9The Legend of Zelda: Tears Of The Kingdom Switch 2 Edition
Metascrore: 95 | SR Rating: 10/10 (Original Release)
Despite being released back in 2023,Zelda: TOTKis currentlyMetacritic’s Best Game of the Yearfor 2025 with a Metascore of 95. Although this might sound strange, it’s unfortunately due to the recent release of the Nintendo Switch 2 console. Along with a variety of other games,Zelda: TOTKreceived a Switch 2 upgrade pack, which is essentially a small paid remaster of the gamethat enhances it for the Nintendo Switch 2.
While the Switch 2 Edition is still more or less the sameZelda: TOTKthat was released on Switch, since it is a technical re-release of the game, Metacritic and several other sources appear to be recognizing it as a separate launch, permitting it to be on lists for 2025. While it is a phenomenal game, and the enhanced version is undoubtedly an improvement,placing it at the top of 2025’s games on a technicality just doesn’t seem fair to the other releases of this year.
8Sea of Stars: Throes Of The Watchmaker
Metascore: 88 | Steam Rating: Very Positive
Released in 2023,Sea of Starsquickly became a must-play indie RPG, which then led to a highly anticipated and successful DLC launch this year. AlthoughThroes of the Watchmakeris technically just an expansion, it’s been recognized as being just as good as the base game itself. Based on the Metascore alone,Throes of the Watchmakeractually ranks higher thanSea of Starsitself, indicating that it only positively expanded on the foundation laid before it.
That being said,Throes of the Watchmakeris still relatively new, and the number of reviews pales in comparison to that of the base game, so it should also be taken with a grain of salt. For example, whileSea of StarsandThroes of the Watchmakerhave the same Very Positive status on Steam,Sea of Starshas over 10,000 contributing to that rating, whileThroes of the Watchmakeronly has a little over 200 contributing to its rating. As time passes, it may not hold this status, but it’s still a strong RPG experience.
7The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild Switch 2 Edition
Metascore: 94 | SR Rating: 9/10 (Original Release)
Similarly toThe Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom,Breath of the Wildalso received a Switch 2 Edition. UnlikeTOTK, however,BOTWwas released in 2017 alongside the launch of the original Switch, making it significantly more dated than its sequel. Given the time gap, changes toBOTWsomehow feel more substantial than those ofTOTK, which is why it falls a bit higher on this list, even though the overall Metascore is a bit lower.
WhileZelda: TOTKwas undeniably a remarkable sequel to the original, there is something aboutZelda: BOTWthat plays as though it knew how monumental a game it would be. It completely changed the gaming industry moving forward andsparked a revolution of games that would attempt to follow in its footsteps. An experience that grand, assisted by improved graphics and smoother gameplay, is worthy of 2025’s top 10. It’s still a re-release, though, so it doesn’t quite deserve to be the top of the top.
6The Talos Principle: Reawakened
Metascore: 89 | Steam Rating: Very Positive
Two years afterTalos Principle 2,Talos Principle: Reawakenedis a visually stunning remaster of the originalthat also includes the original expansion,Road To Gehenna, all entirely remade in Unreal Engine 5. In addition to being an all-inclusive remaster,Talos Principle: Reawakenedalso featured a brand-new prequel expansion,In The Beginning, as part of its release, helping it justify a spot on this 2025 games list.
That being said, whilethe majority of reviews are positive for this title across Steam and Metacritic, there are fewer than a thousand of them, which must be factored into the overall ranking as well. Most of the critiques, unfortunately, revolve around the feeling that better optimization has been exchanged for improved visuals, which is not something you hope to see in a remaster. However, even with that in mind, the consensus remains that this is still the best way to playTTPif you have not already.
5Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2
Metascore: 88 | SR Rating: 9/10 | Steam Rating: Very Positive
Compared to its predecessor,Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2has vastly improved in almost every aspect. Throwing players headfirst into 15th-century Medieval Europe,KCD2strips away all the flashy fantasy elements that are typically dispersed throughout RPGs in this styleand brings you back to basics as you step into the second leg of Henry’s journey. Most impressive, however, is how genuinely immersive the world is, with compelling characters and fascinating details to be found in its medieval world.
Part of what makesThe Witcher 3: Wild Huntsuch an acclaimed game, even to this day, ishow alive and realistic the world feels, andKCD2accomplishes something similar. For most, gaming is more than just entertainment. It’s a way to escape, andKCD2is the rare kind of experience that can create an almost lifelike immersion. While it’s not perfect, withHenry’s lackluster romance optionsbeing a prime example of this, it’s nearly as close as you’re able to get when it comes to 2025’s releases.
4Despelote
This slice-of-life indie title is a love letter to the fond relationship between soccer and the children of Quito, Ecuador.Featuring a stunning and incredibly unique visual style,Despeloteis filled with some of the most natural world-building. Character actions and dialogue feel authentic, andDespelotemakes a careful effort to avoid the idea of filler content, with every moment feeling as though it adds something meaningful to this short story.
Despeloteisn’t the most expansive game of 2025, andthe most echoed sentiment among negative feedback is that the game is simply too short. That being said, it’s often better to enjoy a short game that doesn’t waste a second, rather than play through a long game that frequently feels redundant. Overall, given its short runtime and strong reception,Despeloteis a must-play title for 2025 that everyone should take a few hours to experience.
3Blue Prince
Metascore: 92 (Metacritic Must-Play) | Steam Rating: Very Positive
Puzzle games can often be hit or miss, but forBlue Prince, the combined elements of complex puzzles and the roguelite gameplay make this anothermust-play game of 2025.With each day resetting most of your progress, you’re tasked with exploring and constructing your way through a sprawling mansion, all while uncovering the mysteries that lie within.Blue Princenot only features some of themost frustrating yet rewarding puzzles I’ve ever encountered, but it also slowly unravels a story I was desperate to learn more about, and clearly, I’m not alone in that.
With a Metacritic score of 92 and a majority of positive ratings on Steam, players praiseBlue Princefor its clever tricks and overall immersive feel. Perhaps the only true critique many players seem to have is the desire for a save & quit feature, as single-day runs in-game can often stretch into hours of progress you have to either finish or abandon. However, the lack of this mechanic is somewhat fitting for the wayBlue Princeis intended to play, even if inconvenient, so that’s something to keep in mind.
2Split Fiction
Metascore: 91 (Metacritic Must-Play) | SR Rating: 10/10 | Steam Rating: Overwhelmingly Positive
Following its co-op GOTY winner,It Takes Two, Hazelight has delivered yet another gem in the form ofSplit Fiction, which is nowone of EA’s most successful titles. Staying in theme with Hazelight’s lineup of games,Split Fictionis another co-op adventure in which two players work together, this time to unravel the made-up sci-fi and fantasy stories from the minds of Mio and Zoe.The teamwork elements, enjoyable characters, and unique settings make this game something you have to experience to understand.
Like Hazelight’s other games,Split Fictionutilizes a Friend Pass, which allows one player to purchase the game and have someone else play with them for free, without the need to purchase the game twice.
Despite having a slightly lower Metascore thanBlue Prince, the “Overwhelmingly Positive” Steam reception speaks for itself, and my own experience was every bit as exciting.The final level ofSplit Fictionfeatures some of the most impressive level design I’ve ever seen, and I felt as though Hazelight was showing off what it’s truly capable of. The impressive gameplay combined with a focus on bringing players together to create a meaningful experience makesSplit Fictionunlike any other game that’s been released this year.
1Clair Obscur: Expedition 33
Metascore: 93 (Metacritic Must-Play) | SR Rating: 9/10 | Steam Rating: Overwhelmingly Positive
Even thoughClair Obscur: Expedition 33 is third on Metacriticat the moment, it comes in behindZelda: BOTWandZelda: TOTK’s Switch 2 Edition re-releases, so many are still unofficially considering it the best game of 2025, at least for now. With a setting inspired by Belle Époque France,Clair Obscur’s post-apocalyptic fantasy world features a rough steampunk-like design with turn-based combat and real-time mechanics. While this had the potential to be brushed off as simply another new JRPG, its unique story and seemingly complex take on recognizable elements have made it a standout title.
Clair Obscur’s battle depictionsand impressive gameplay aren’t the only things that make it a winner, however, as it also features one of the most engaging stories to hit the market this year. Often, the long hours of RPGs can tend to drag on if not accompanied by a motivating story, but in this case,Clair Obscur: Expedition 33remains captivating as you work to unravel the somber mystery of the Paintress. Players haven’t been shy to deem this hauntingly beautiful game GOTY-worthy, and it may very well achieve that depending on what the rest of 2025 holds.
